CHARLOTTE -- Here's a scary thought: Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is off to a better start than he was after two games a year ago when he won the NFL MVP award.

One could argue that Newton is off to the best start of his NFL career.

The first pick of the 2011 draft has thrown for 547 yards and five touchdowns to only two interceptions for a passer rating of 92.7. He also has rushed 17 times for 91 yards and a touchdown.

After two games a year ago, Newton had 370 yards passing and three touchdowns to two interceptions for a passer rating of 76.3. He had 24 rushes for 111 yards and one touchdown.

Newton didn't really take off statistically last season until the 10th game when he threw five touchdown passes against Washington. He had 18 touchdown passes over a five-game span to launch himself into the MVP talk with New England's Tom Brady and Arizona's Carson Palmer.

He finished with a career-best 35 touchdown passes and 10 rushing, earning 48 of a possible 50 votes for the MVP award.

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula didn't hesitate to say Newton was playing better now than a year ago.

"He just looks a little more comfortable back there,'' he said. "He looks a little more accurate, his decisions are a little quicker.''

Only twice in his career has Newton had more yards passing after two games. He had 854 as a rookie when he went nuts with 422 yards passing in his debut and 432 the following week.

But he had only three touchdowns and four interceptions, so you'd have to rate this start as better.

Newton began his second season with 556 yards passing in the first two games for a rating of 106.5. But he had only two touchdowns to one interception.

So you'd have to rate this start better than that one.

"Cam is throwing the deep balls so well now with good touch,'' Shula said. "And you've got big targets out there for him now.''

Yes, Newton also has more talent around him than at any point in his career. The return of 2014 first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin after missing last season with a knee injury has been huge.